IslandVibesIOP.com 11 Mayor’s Message IOP receives $1.1M settlement from Airbnb lawsuit By Phillip Pounds, Mayor, Isle of Palms CIVICS Seriously, isn’t it hard to believe we are already thinking and planning for back-to-school time? This summer I hope you have enjoyed some fun on our island or another piece of paradise elsewhere. As we have done in the past few years, we will be meeting with representatives from numerous area partners: Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Charleston County, SCDOT and others, to debrief on the traffic and safety issues associated with our busy tourist season to review what worked and where we can improve. These meetings typically happen in October each year. For now though, I do want to give a huge shoutout to all our city staff for their efforts in keeping things going and safe year-round, but especially when we have so many visitors on our island. If you see one of our employees around the community, stop and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Recently, you may have seen some news coverage of a lawsuit settled between multiple South Carolina municipalities/counties and Airbnb. In February, Airbnb agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against them in 2021 over unpaid accommodations taxes and business license fees. The City of Isle of Palms was one of several Lowcountry municipalities involved in the suit, joining Charleston, North Charleston, Folly Beach, Mount Pleasant and Edisto Beach. As part of the $60 million settlement, Isle of Palms received $1.1 million, which we have allocated to the Beach Preservation Fund. These funds will support beach renourishment efforts, including the restoration of protective dunes and the placement of additional sand in the most affected areas. This was a long process but a great result for our city. I hope you will participate in the upcoming events in our community: Aug. 9 – Annual Half Rubber Tournament – IOP Rec Center, games begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 12 – Special City Council Meeting – Workshop – City Hall, 5 p.m. Aug. 14 – Sea Stroll and Learn – 25th Avenue beach access, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Aug. 21 – Farmers Market – IOP Rec Center, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 26 – City Council Meeting – City Hall, 6 p.m. Aug. 29 – Coffee with the Mayor – IOP Rec Center, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Thank you for the opportunity to serve! See you around the island. Phillip Pounds, Mayor IOP 843-252-5359 ppounds@iop.net Besides serving as head of municipal government in a variety of specific roles, one critical duty of a city mayor is to keep a balance in the community among business, growth, quality of life, public services and, in the case of Isle of Palms, tourism. On June 4 at the Charleston Gaillard Center, Explore Charleston recognized IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds’ attention to this delicate balance, presenting him with the 2025 Lawrimore-Craven Leadership Award, an annual accolade honoring elected officials who go above and beyond in their support of area tourism. “Mayor Pounds is a remarkable leader who lives the power of collaboration and carries a thankful spirit,” said Helen Hill, president and CEO of Explore Charleston. “He is the first to remind people that other communities would love to have our perceived problems.” Kourtney Jones, Explore Charleston’s director of media relations, added that while Pounds was selected for numerous reasons, the main factor involved the development of a workable plan for managing the challenges of future tourism. Mayor Pounds honored for outstanding travel & tourism promotion By L. C. Leach III “Through his leadership, diverse voices throughout the community have been united in the city's first Tourism Management Plan,” Jones said. “He has worked and continues to work with residents, local businesses and the community at large to initiate projects that address the community's needs today and for the future.” The award, established in 2000, is given to elected officials or government employees for their support of a growing tourism industry in Greater Charleston. In 2024, the travel segment of this industry grew to a record $14.03 billion. Tourism also accounted for almost one quarter of all sales – 23.5% – and a further record 54,900 area residents employed in the hospitality and tourism sector. A total of seven area leaders were honored during Explore Charleston’s Travel Council Annual Luncheon, attended by more than 450 business and civic leaders. "I’m truly honored," Pounds said. "This recognition is a reflection of our city’s shared commitment to thoughtful governance and sustainable growth, especially within our vital hospitality industry.” When asked what he would personally like to see going forward with respect to the varying challenges that come with area tourism, Pounds said part of his vision is the same as what the island has been noted for since the late 1890s: maintaining a safe, sustainable and friendly beach community and a continued focus on environmental preservation and sustainability. “We still have a lot of work in front of us – we have barely scratched the surface from our recently completed Community Enrichment Plan,” he said. “And I’m proud to work alongside dedicated community members and partners who care deeply about preserving what makes Isle of Palms so special while planning for its future." IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds, seated far right, was recognized along with six others for their support of area tourism.
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